Mayor joins call for plastic bag levy

Green MP Denise Roche is campaigning to phase out single-use plastic bags, something supported by most local authorities in New Zealand.

Far North mayor John Carter has joined his counterparts from throughout Northland - and most of them across New Zealand - in asking the Government to impose a levy on single use plastic bags.

On Monday Local Government New Zealand sent a letter to Associate Minister for the Environment Scott Simpson calling for the Government to introduce a levy on single use plastic bags.

Signed by 65 mayors and chairs from around the country - including Mr Carter, Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai, Kaipara mayor Greg Gent and Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd - the letter builds on a remit from the 2015 LGNZ Conference calling for a levy, and which was supported by 89 per cent of councils.

LGNZ said the experience of those in local government is plastic bags make a considerable impact on local environments and communities bear the environmental and financial burden. International experience has shown the introduction of levies can be effective and in countries like Denmark, Ireland and China have led to a dramatic reduction in plastic bag use.

A levy could play an important role in helping efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste.

The letter was launched for signing in June by Wellington mayor and LGNZ National Council member Justin Lester, supported by Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Dunedin mayor Dave Cull. The letter calls on the Government to impose a levy on single use plastic bags, or to give individual councils the ability to regulate themselves.

Mr Lester said there is clear public will for a levy on plastic bags.

"Not only are 90 per cent of New Zealand's cities and towns are represented, but what we've seen over the past month is that the majority of New Zealanders support this levy, and most notably, retailers are on board too."

LGNZ president Lawrence Yule says councils and communities take their environmental responsibilities seriously. A levy on plastic bags would act as a deterrent at the point of sale and go some way towards removing these harmful products from the waste stream.

"It's clear to us that we need to do more to minimise the impact of plastic bags on our environment," Mr Yule says. "Plastic bags cause harm in their creation, when they go to landfill and when they are littered."